Wall washing apparatus



March 4, 1941. MQBERG 2,233,632

wALz. WASHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 14, 1936 AM am Patented Mar. 4, 12941 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE WALL WVASHISNG APPARATUS Ill., as trustee Application August 14, 1936, Serial No. 95,953

1 Claim.

My present invention relates in general to the controlof fluid under pressure and-more'particularly to means for and method of applying liquids on surfaces to be treated, the invention, more V specifically, relating to iluid pressure apparatus for the application of liquids on surfaces to be cleaned.

An important object of the invention is to provide pressure storage apparatus and means for delivering liquid at all times under the control of an operator situated remotelyvfrom the storage apparatus, a further object being to deliverthe liquid-for uniform application on a sur- I face to be treated with said liquid.

15: Another important object is to provide an improved applicator for applying liquid, delivered under pressure to said applicator, substantially uniformly and in .regulated quantities, upon a surface to be treated with said liquid; a further 20 object being to arrange the applicator in the form of a` trowel comprising a preferably flat, perforated plate, and a handle attached on the back of said plate and providing a liquid delivery chamberv on one side of the plate' and conununicating with the plateperforations, said handle having a valve conveniently mounted to facilitate operation thereof by a person graspingsaidhandle whereby to' afford instant controlof liquid flow, under pressure, to said chamberv so-that :lregulation of liquid pressure in said chamber and hence of the flow of liquid from the chamber through the plate perforations mayl at all? times behad under the controll of a person manipulating the applicator.

35 Another important object isl to provide simplied means for detachably securing a pad., such as a towel, cloth or other porous fabric; upon Athe faceof the trowel in position to'ireceivefliquid delivered through the openings of the trowel 40 plate, whereby the pad may become saturated andserve to spread the liquid. uniformly on a surface tobe treated.

Another important object is to form theapplicator in'such a way as to reduce the costof 45 manufacturing and assembling the same', in-

cluding'the formation of the handle as a castingrequiring a minimum amount o-f drilling and finishing operations, and providing a chamber into which liquid under pressure may beintro- 50 duced, under `the control of a valve, in position to escape thence through openings inthe face of theitrowel to maintain in uniformly saturated condition a liquid spreading. pady attached on saidface.

su Another important object is-tc provi'defsimplii-ledLv clips for securing theliquid spreading'pad upon the perforated'faceof the trowel plate; a further'object being to mountI the clips upon the handle portion of' the trowel 'in positionA to` bear resilientlyuponthe back of the trowel plate near 5l thee'dge's thereof.

Another important object resides in the sim-- plirledl valvev structure and thel arrangement thereof in the handle portion of the trowel whereby standardized commercial fittings may be utilized in the assembly.

Among the other impor-tant objects of the present'inventionis to fabricate the troWel principally of aluminum in orderto reduce its weight; thereby reducing the effortrequired to manipu- 15k late thesame'in applying liquids, especiallyon Walland ceiling surfaces; to' provide wall washing equipment which is essentially portable,l is of simplified construction, easy to operate, and adapted for manufacture at low cost; to `provide iiuidf pressure equipmentv for the delivery of liquidsat operatingpressure at a remote station for application on a surface to be" treated, including means,- under the 4control of the'operator at the ypointlof` application, for" regulating the flow of the liquid to the end that it mayv be` applied uniformly and at a desired rateon the surface being treated; and, in general, to improve wall Washing facilities., to reduce the'l cost of washing operations, and to provide means where'- 30 bythe saine maybe carried on with'maximum efficiency.

These and numerous other important objects, advantages and =inherent functions ofthe invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection `With the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is aperspecti-ve View of vfluidpressure apparatus embodying myY present-invention; and

Figures 2, `3, 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken' substantially.` and. respectively` alongf.' the linesv2--2; 3 3, .4L-4,' 5-5 and L6'- 61in1 -Figureil 45 To illustrate "my invention, IS have shown,- on the drawing, fluid pressureapparatus? comprising tank means Il' adapted?? for.v thev storageoiv liquid under pressure,` a broad'featureandl'purpose'of myv invention being'to provid'e'forsto'r- 50 ing'liquids, undery pressurepreferablylf in sep'- arated'fashion' in *thertank meansiwhereby the liquids mayreadily. bei delivered, selectively.' or otherwise; from the tank f means.`v` T`olf thisfl en'd ase chambers and means I3 is provided for delivering the stored liquid, at a point remote from the container |I`for application as in the washing of wall and like surfaces.

The washing of wall surfaces usually requires the application of at least a cleaning fluid and a rinsing iiuid in succession on the surfaces to be cleaned, and I therefore provide means, such as a partition, within the container I I defining a plurality of storage chambers, the partition being preferably secured in the container I| in any suitable fashion preferably preventing liquid leakage between the chambers. I

The partition, however, is arranged to afford communication between the chambers,prefer, ably at the upper end of the container II, as through an opening at the top of the partition near the top 25 of the container. The top 25 `of the container may be formed with openingsaffording access to each of the compartments so that said compartments may be charged or loaded each with a liquid different from that contained inthe other. The loading openings are preferably provided with standard ttings 29 sealed in said openings and externally threaded to receive cover elements 3| by means of which the openings may be sealed, said cover elements being readily removable by unscrewing the same from the threaded fittings 29, in order to permit liquids to beV introduced into the compartments.

`One of the covers 3| may carry a gauge 33 for indicating the pressure Within container I I. Another cover 3I, preferably carries a pump having an operatinglhandle |1, by means of which desired pressure conditions may be established within the container'll including the compartments thereof so that the liquid in each compart` entvmay be placed under like pressure by operation of the pump means 41. h

By removing vthe caps 3|, one of the compartments may be filled with asoap solution or other cleaning fluid,v andthe other compartment may be charged with a rinsing liquid such as water. Thegcovers 3| may then be replaced and, by operating the pump 41, a suitiable operating pres- ,sure may be developed within both compart-l ments, the pressure so developed being indicated on the pressure gauge 33. In order to retain the` pressure so developed it is desirable to provide resilient sealing rings within the covers 3| in position to be compressed by and between the covers 3| and the ends ofY the fittings 29 on which said'covers are threadedly secured. A similar gasket may also be applied and compressed by and between the cover and the end of the pump barrel.

The liquid applying means I3 comprise trowels or applicators operable to deliver liquid, substantially uniformly from the container and at a rate controlled by the operator of the trowels, for application on a surface to be treated with the liquids. Where liquids of different character are applied, I prefer to provide a trowel for each different kind of liquid, each trowel being connected with one of the liquid compartments,

preferably by means of a exible conduit 53.

The trowelsor applicators I3 may be of any suitable or preferred form, but I prefer to utilize applicators of the character and form shown in the drawing. The illustrated applicators comprise each a plate portion 55, and a handle bracket 51, the plate portion comprising a preferably rectangular element formed with a row vof spaced perforations 59, .preferably arrangedV along the medialline of the plate. `The handlebracket preferably comprises a casting having a substantially fiat surface in position to overlie the perforations 59 on the back of the plate 55, a gasket 6| being applied between the casting and the back of the plate 55 to define a closed chamber 62 in communication with the perfo-rations 59. The bracket is also formed with a pair of spaced handle carrying uprights 63, one of which is formed with a preferably integral perforated lug 64, extending outwardly thereof in a direction away from the other upright and in a plane substantially parallel with the bottom surface of .the bracket on which the plate 55 is mounted.

A handle 65 is mounted in position extending between kthe upper ends of the uprights 63, said handle preferably being carried on a pin 61, the opposite ends of which are secured as at 69 to rthe uprights 63. The body of the bracket 51 also is formed with a channel 1|, extending preferably from end to end of the bracket, which channel may be formed byrdrilling or coring the casting. The opposed ends of the channel are closed, preferably b-y means of plugs 13 threaded in the ends of the channel, and sealed in placeas with shellac to prevent leakage. h y y The bracket 51 is formed with a threaded opening adapted to receive one end of an 'elbow' 15, said elbow rconnecting with said channel LII at ornear one end of the bracket. `'I'he other end of the elbow is threaded to receivefa gland 11, by means of which a preferably copper tube 19 is secured to the elbow, suitable packing 8| being held in place by the glandv 11 Vto prevent fluid leakage at this point. Axflexiblapreferably rubber, tube forming the conduit 53 is attached on theprojecting end of the tubey 19, the other end of the conduit 53 being connected on a similar, preferably copper, tubel 83, which V isor may be secured, by means o-f a gland 85, inra tubular fitting 81, which, -in turn, is or maybe threaded in an embossment 89 formed inwthe wall of the container II and Acornmunicating with oneofY the chambers thereof. i Y

Liquid under pressure may thus be` delivered through the conduit 53, into the channelfII of the trowel at substantially the pressure Vprevailing within the container II. 'Ihe channel 1| a-lso is connected with the chamber 62 througha valve mechanism 9| mounted in the bracket51. The bracket 51 is formedwith an embossment 93 adjacent one of theuprights 63and `prefer-' ably adjacent the vend of the bracket opposite from that at which the elbow 15 is attached. The embossment 93 receives atting 95 forming. a valve chamber having an opening 91, communicating at one end with the channel i1.|;ithe

`end of the -tting 95 forming azvalv'e seat adaptedv 1|,"through the valve'chamber 95 and tlefco'n-l duit IUI, and enter .the cavity 62 inpo'sitior'r-to flow thence through 'the openingsf59, and thus be delivered, at a rate at al1 times under 'the control of theV valve, in position to be'applied upon a surface to 'be treated. l i

The valve disk 99 Vis carried upon' a valve'stem |63, which extends through the fltti'ng1`95 the valve chamber defined therein, andtlience through the opening on the yiiange'lil, tl'iestem |03 terminating in a button |05 in position op- I posite the end of the handle 65, so that the button and stem may be readily `pressed by a. person holding the handle whereby valve movement is at `all times under thumblcontrol.

lThe valve stem |03 4is ,normally urged, in a button |05. The valve chamber 95 has a norstemv |03, by suitable gland means preferably threadedly intertted on the upper end of the valve chamber 95 in order to compress a suitable packing material ||3 around the valve stem and prevent fluid leakage from the valve chamber at ythis point.

The plate 55, of course, may be secured in place upon the bracket 51 in any suitable fashion, although I prefer to employ screws I5 penetrating the plate and the gasket 6| and taking into the body of the bracket 51. I also prefer to form the bracket as an aluminum casting and to utilize aluminum or similar relatively light weight material in the plate 55, in order thus to reduce the total weight of the trowels to the lowest possible minimum, to the end that persons using the washing apparatus may not become unduly fatigued through continuously holding andswinging the trowels, especially in performing overhead washing operation.

Washing in accordance with my present invention is accomplished by controlling the flow of liquid to the chamber 62 and through the openings 59 at a rate suflicient to maintain a liquid spreading pad ||1, on the face of the plate 55, in a desired moist or saturated condition, the apparatus of my present invention being operable to regulate the flow of liquid to the pad ||1 substantially exactly at a rate necessary to maintain the spreading pad in properly saturated condition whereby the liquid may be applied uniformly on the surface being treated, and at a rate best suited to efficient washing, the application of liquid being such that wastage of the liquid is reduced to a minimum.

I also provide simplified means ||9 for securing the spreading pad in readily demountable fashion on the face of the plate 55, the means ||9 comprising preferably four clips |2|, formed of sheet metal and mounted in pairs at the opposite ends of resilient spring elements 23. The midportions of the springs |23 are secured in seats |25 formed in the bracket 51, the springs being secured in place in any suitable fashion preferably by means of the holding screws |21. The springs |23 extend outwardly on opposite sides of the bracket and support the clip elements |2| adjacent the opposite side edges of the plate 55.

The clips |2| preferably have saw-tooth edges |29 normally urged by the resilience of the springs |23 toward the back of the plate 55 in position to engage the opposite edges of the pad ||1. The clips |2| also are preferably formed with offset lugs |3|, which may be riveted to the springs means |23, as shown at |33, in order to secure the clips on the springs. The clips also have upstanding ears |35, by means of which they may be raised from the plate in order to permit insertion or removal of the pad ||1.

Where the surface being treated is of irregular character, I provide a layer of yielding material, suc-h as sponge rubber, between the towel ||1 and the face of the plate 55. This layer may have clips to secure it to the plate, as at the corners thereof. This layer serves to permit the pad ||1 to follow the irregularities of the surface.

It willbe apparent from the foregoing that the washing of walls, ceilings and the like, and inr fact the application of fluid on any surface will be greatly facilitated and may be accomplished at maximum eiiiciency as to time and materials consumed by the use of the apparatus of my `present invention,- since said apparatus affords;

means whereby liquid is instantaneously available, in regulated quantities and without any waste, at the place where it is desired to apply the liquid on the surface being treated. The apparatus,moreover, permits washing operations to take place continuously and without interruption or loss of time for rinsing or dipping for additional fluid as is the case where usual methods and equipment are employed. The container ||r is preferably supplied with a suitable supporting base |31, which may be provided with casters for mobility, if desired, and the top 25 of the container may be provided with a suitable carrying handle |39, so that the apparatus is entirely portab-le and may be readily carried from place to place. Convenient hooks `|4I may also be -provided for hanging the trowels on the container when not in use. The conduits 53, during idle periods, may be wrapped around the container whereby the entire apparatus, when not in use, presents a neat, compact appearance and is adapted for storage in minimum space.

For wall washing purposes I prefer to supply an additional trowel for drying purposes. This additional trowel, however, need have no provision for the valved delivery of liquid to and through the plate, and may simply comprise a plate having a handle and clip means for securing a dry, absorptive pad upon the face of the plate in a manner heretofore described in connection with the wet trowels I3.

The washing process then comprises the application of a cleaning solution by means of one of the trowels I3, followed shortly by the application of a rinsing solution by another of the trowels I3, and a final drying accomplished by means of the additional dry trowel, heretofore mentioned. It isv obvious, however, that the apparatus of my present invention may be utilized for other purposes than that of washing and I do not necessarily wish to limit the invention specifically for use in washing operations. It will be noted, however, that the apparatus is of extremely simple construction and may be built largely of standardized commercial fittings, so that the entire apparatus may be made at low cost. The apparatus, however, is unusually simple, easy and convenient to operate and at the same time furnishes means whereby wall washing operations maybe carried on continuously with a minimum of effort and at high efficiency, thereby substantially reducing the cost of such operations.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description; and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of demonstrating the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In washing apparatus, -a liquid applicator comprising a plate-like bladel and a blade mount comprising a seat, spaced uprights forming a handle support, handle means extending between said spaced uprights, and means to secure the plate on said seat to form a liquid delivery chamber therebetween, said blade being formed with perforations therethrough connecting with said delivery chamber and opening on a surfacel of said blade remote from said chamber, said blade mount being formed with an embossment at the base of one of said uprights and having an inlet compartment formed for connection withan external source of liquid under pressure, said embossment having a valve receptacle cavity connected at one-end with said inlet compartment, a member forming a valve seat removably Asecuredin` said receptacle cavity and forming a valve stem guide, a duct extending in the' emsition extendingadjacent one of said spaced uprights, a valve member at one end of said-stem in position to engage the valve seat between the inlet compartment and saidduct, said stem terminating at its other end adjacent an'end :of

said handle means, and yspring means normally .urging said stem in a direction to press thevalve member on said seat.

GUNNAR MOBERG. 

